Alginate microcapsules as nutrient suppliers: an in vitro study

Objective: Alginate, known as a group of anionic polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds, has attracted the attention of researchers because of its biocompatibility and degradability properties. Alginate has shown beneficial effects on wound healing as it has similar function as extracellular matrix. Alginate microcapsules [AM] that are used in tissue engineering as well as Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium [DMEM] contain nutrients required for cell viability. The purpose of this research was introducing AM in medium and nutrient reagent cells and making a comparison with control group cells that have been normally cultured in long term

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, AM were shaped in distilled water, it was dropped at 5 mL/hours through a flat 25G5/8 sterile needle into a crosslinking bath containing 0.1 M calcium chloride to produce calcium alginate microspheres. Then, the size of microcapsules [300-350 microm] were confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy [SEM] images after the filtration for selection of the best size. Next, DMEM was injected into AM. Afterward, adipose- derived mesenchymal stem cells [ADSCs] and Ringer's serum were added. Then, MTT and DAPI assays were used for cell viability and nucleus staining, respectively. Also, morphology of microcapsules was determined under invert microscopy

Results: Evaluation of the cells performed for spatial media/microcapsules at the volume of 40 microl, showed ADSCs after 1-day cell culture. Also, MTT assay results showed a significant difference in the viability of sustained-release media injected to microcapsules [P<0.05]. DAPI staining revealed living cells on the microcapsules after 1 to 7-day cell culture

Conclusion: According to the results, AM had a positive effect on cell viability in scaffolds and tissue engineering and provide nutrients needed in cell therapy

Structural biology: modeling applications and techniques at a glance

As recent advancements in biology shows, the molecular machines specially proteins, RNA and complex molecules play the main role of the so called cell functionality. It means a very big part of the system biology is concerned with the interactions of such molecular components. Drug industries and research institutes are trying hard to better understand the concepts underlying these interactions and are highly dependent on the issues regarding these molecular elements. However the costs for such projects are so high and in many cases these projects will be funded by governments or profit making companies. With this in mind it has to be said that the techniques like stimulation are always a very good candidate to decrease such costs and to provide scientists with a bright future of the project results before undergoing costly experiments. However the costs involved projects that determine an approximation for the problem is not that much high but they are also costly. So it is of utmost importance to invent special techniques for the concept of stimulation that can also decrease the project costs and also predict much accurately. Since the system biology and proteomics as the study of the proteins and their functions are in the center of consideration for the purpose of drug discovery, understanding the cell functionalities and the underlying causes behind diseases; so we need advance software and algorithms that can predict the structure of the molecular components and to provide researchers with the computational tools to analyze such models. In this paper we make review of the importance of molecular modeling, its limitations and applications

nutrition knowledge level of physicians, nurses and nutritionists in some educational hospitals

Nutritional care is an important part of medical care of patients and plays a key role in improvement, prevention and control of malnutrition in hospitals. The current study aimed to determine the nutrition knowledge level of doctors, nurses and nutritionists in some teaching hospitals in Tehran in 2008. In a cross-sectional study a total of 198 samples including 28 nutritionists, 81 nurses and 89 physicians were selected using simple random sampling. The current study was conducted in 9 hospitals affiliated with the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences [SBMU] in Tehran. A self-administered multiple choice questionnaire about different aspects of basic and clinical nutrition was completed. Then nutrition knowledge levels of each individual was determined by calculating correct knowledge, perceived knowledge and accuracy of knowledge scores. The median knowledge score of the nutritionists, physicians, and nurses was 85%,77%, and 75%, respectively. The median perceived knowledge of all the groups was above 90%. The mean accuracy score in the 3 groups of nutritionists, physicians and nurses was 87%,79%, and 76%, respectively. The results indicated that all groups have a poor knowledge, especially in clinical nutrition topics. Based on the current results, knowledge level of clinical staff is an effective factor in not paying attention to the importance of nutritional care as a part of medical care of the patients. Enhancing awareness level of all groups especially physicians and nutritionists in clinical division plays an important role in enhancing clinical nutrition care and treatment regime

Investigation of genetic association between PRODH gene and schizophrenia in Iranian population

Schizophrenia is a complicated, debilitative mental disorder. Evidence is emerging for the association of polymorphisms in PRODH gene and increased risk of schizophrenia. In the present research, we investigated relationship between of this gene and schizophrenia disease by means of a gene polymorphism using PCR-RFLP technique.150 persons suffering from acute Schizophrenia and 160 healthy persons volunteering for this project were bled. Based on intended SNP, pair of primers was designed by Oligo7 program and polymerase chain reaction [PCR] was performed by thermo cycler. Then the resulted reactive mixture was exposed to a special enzyme, which we had intended for our study. Finally, the fragments of enzyme cut were transferred on the gel [4%] and migration pattern of resulted components were compared in healthy and patient subjects, whereby obtaining genotypes of different persons in polymorphic position. We utilized SPSS 16.0 program for statistical investigation of the work and studied SNP 1945T>C and its relation with the disease in statistical population. Our findings showed a meaningful relation between the occurrence of this nucleotide mutation and its frequency in patients [given P value=0.00]. Results of this work indicate that PRODH gene can be considered to be a significant candidate in our population as a factor influencing the occurrence of Schizophrenia

Appraisal of fibroblast viability in different concentration of glucose as mimicry diabetic condition

Diabetes mellitus is a common name for a group of diseases of a much diversified etiopathogenesis, characterized by chronically increased concentration of blood glucose. Diabetes results from alterations of various genes, each having a partial and additive effect. The inheritance pattern is thus complex, and environmental factors play an important role in favoring or delaying the expression of the disease. Diabetes can cause devastating complications, including cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, and blindness, leg and foot amputations, delay in wound healing, which often result in disability and death. Fibroblast cells play a critical role in wound healing. They are the most common cells of connective tissue in animals. Tissue damage stimulates fibrocystic and induces the mitosis of fibroblasts. Wound healing processes in diabetic patients are so longer and sometimes cause to cut damaged tissue. In this study Fibroblasts were isolated from foreskin and cultured as primary cell culture in different concentrations of glucose [8.8 mmol/l, 13.13 mmol/l, 18.31 mmol/l, 27.7 mmol/l, 37.18 mmol/l, 47.17 mmol/l, 83.24 mmol/l, 124.8 mmol/l and 166.4 mmol/l] for 48h incubation time. Traditionally, the determination of cell growth is done by counting viable cells after staining with a vital dye. Among several approaches have been used in the past, The MTT method of cell determination is most invaluable to cultures which are prepared in multiwall plates. This assay is a sensitive, quantitative and reliable colorimetric assay that measures viability, proliferation and activation of cells. The results of this preliminary study suggest that altered glucose concentrations may affect fibroblast behavior in ways that are important for tissue repair and wound healing. The cells had low level of confluency and viability and in high concentration fibroblast had very low cell division

Harvesting epithelial cell sheet based on thermo- sensitive hydrogel

Thermo-sensitive hydrogels were prepared by graft copolymerization of chitosan and N-Isopropylacrylamide via gamma radiation. Characterization of hydrogels such as 13C-NMR, DSC analysis and swelling test and cell assessments for harvesting living cell sheet were investigated. 13C-NMR and DSC analysis showed chitosan and NIPAAm monomer were grafted via gamma radiation successfully. Swelling ratio and curves results administrated hydrophilicity / hydrophobicity of hydrogel that this property is due to presence of PNIPAAm in different temperatures. The hydrogel was tested for harvesting epithelial cells after carrying out cell culture at 37 degreeC and incubating the confluent cells at 4 degreeC for spontaneous detachment of cell sheet from hydrogel surface without enzyme treatment. Cell viability assay results and microscopic observations demonstrated that cells could attach to the hydrogel surface and maintain high viability and proliferation ability. Cell detachment efficiency from the hydrogel was high. These unique properties of the hydrogel would make it a promising support for epithelial cell grafting especially cornea regeneration

Cellular orientation on micro-patterned biocompatible PHBV film

Cellular orientation control is important for tissue regeneration. Design of oriented structures for cells with suitable features can be used in tissue engineering. One of the methods of cellular orientation with the aim of regenerating which damaged tissues is utilizing oriented biocompatible substrates. Different methods can be used to design these structures such as utilizing magnetic fields, electrospinned oriented fibers or methods such as directional solidification. This paper investigates the influence of grooved substrate-mediated physical guidance on the growth and alignment of cells in vitro. A novel technique was developed to fabricate microgrooves on biodegradable polymer substrates made of poly hydroxyl buthyratevalerate. Solvent-castings were used to transfer micro patterns from quartz and silicon substrates onto biodegradable polymer films. The cells were successfully oriented on micro grooved polymeric substrate which can be used for axon guidance and nerve regeneration